Dr. Kelly Sherrill Linkous
Dr. Kelly Sherrill Linkous
Assistant Professor, Educational Administration
School: Graduate School of Education and Human Development
Department: Educational Leadership
Contact:
Email:
Dr. Kelly Sherrill Linkous
Office Phone:
(571) 553-3772
Kelly Sherrill Linkous, Esq., J.D., Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor in the Educational Leadership and Administration (ELA) program. She serves as a co-coordinator and adviser in ELA’s doctoral program coordinator, and served as an ELA program director from 2017-2022.
Dr. Sherrill Linkous’ legal research expertise includes special education law, First Amendment law, student rights, employment law, and other areas of law applicable and relevant to public schools. She is an Editorial Board member of the Education Law and Policy Review. She teaches School Law to MA, EdS, and post-master’s certificate students, as well as doctoral-level courses on Leadership and Dissertation writing. She has chaired or is chairing over 53 dissertation studies.
Dr. Sherrill Linkous has received numerous teaching awards at GW. In 2022, she earned the prestigious Morton A. Bender Award, becoming a member of the selective Academy for Distinguished Teachers. For seven consecutive years (2012-2018), Dr. Sherrill Linkous was one of fewer than 10 professors nominated for the university-wide Honey S. Nashman Faculty Member of the Award, winning the award in 2015. In 2012, Dr. Sherrill Linkous was awarded the Dean’s Outstanding GSEHD Faculty Award.
Dr. Sherrill Linkous obtained her J.D. from GW in 2001 and her Ph.D. in Educational Administration and Policy from the University of Georgia in 2009. She maintains her license to practice law in Virginia and Georgia, and continues to provide pro bono legal representation for education law matters on a case-by-case basis. She is an active member of the Education Law Association and the Council for Exceptional Children. Dr. Sherrill Linkous has served on the Board of Trustees for the Children’s Guild DC Public Charter School, which specializes in serving children with autism and severe emotional and behavioral disabilities. In her personal time, she advocates for children who have twice-exceptionalities, rescues and fosters Labrador Retrievers through Lab Rescue of the LRCP, and teaches multiple elementary school science and law/government classes to third through fifth graders.
Ph.D., University of Georgia
J.D., The George Washington University
M.Ed., University of Georgia
B.S.Ed., University of Georgia
- LEGAL:
- PreK-12 Education Law, including specialization in Constitutional Law (e.g., free speech, free exercise, Establishment Clause, S&S, due process, equal protection, etc.)
- Special Education Law (IDEA, 504/ADA, gifted education)
- Student Discipline
- Compulsory Education
- Homeschooling
- Employment Law
- Law of Student Records
- School Board and School District Governance
- Title IX
- OTHER:
- Scholarship related to advanced academics, gifted education, homeschooling, K-12 athletics, leadership in special programming (e.g., special education, gifted education, EL programming)
Sherrill Linkous, K. (2025). FAPE, IEPs, and the Science of Reading: The Intersectionality of IDEA and State Literacy Acts, in press.
Sherrill Linkous, K. (2024). Why Twice-Exceptional is Twice as Difficult: Identification of and Services for Gifted Students with Disabilities under IDEA and Section 504, in press.
Sherrill Linkous, K., & Rippner, J. (2022). The Shifting Legal Balance between Public School Employees’ Right to the Free Exercise of Religion of Religion and the Establishment Clause, 392 West Ed. L. J. 499.
Sherrill Linkous, K. (2015). Mother, may I? No you may not! The constitutionality of parental consent requirements for student participation in extracurricular activities and clubs, 3 Child & Family L.J. 20.
Sherrill, K., & Reichhardt, W. (2013). Student Records: Legal Requirements You Need to Know, National Business Institute.
Sherrill, K. (May 2003). The equal access act and gay/straight clubs. Inquiry & Analysis, National School Boards Association Council of School Attorneys.
Sherrill, K. (August 2002). Judicial review: The supreme court broadens the scope of drug testing in public schools. The State Education Standard, 3(4).
Sherrill, K., & McQueen, K. (Winter 2001). The high price of campaign promises: Ill-conceived labor responsibility policy, 30 PUB. CONTRACT L. J. 267.
Commeyras, M., Sherrill, K., & Wuenker, K. (1996). Trusting students’ questions about literature: Stories across contexts in LIVELY DISCUSSIONS! FOSTERING ENGAGED READING, Int’l Reading Ass’n Pub.
Selected Presentations
Sherrill Linkous, K. (2022 & 2023). Why Twice-Exceptional is Twice as Difficult: Identification of and Services for Gifted Students with Disabilities under IDEA and Section 504, Ed. Law Ass’n Conf.
Sherrill Linkous, K., & Payne, K. (2021). Children with Chronic Pain Disorders in K-12 Public Schools: Legal and Practical Considerations, Council for Exceptional Children Conv.
Sherrill Linkous, K. (2020). Following the Law While Teaching the Law: Strategies for Student Engagement and Legal Compliance in Virtual Education Law Courses, Ed. Law Ass’n Conf.
Sherrill Linkous, K. (2020 & 2019).
Federal Rights and Education and Special Education Law, Washington Policy Seminar, Institute for Educational Leadership.
Rippner, J., & Sherrill Linkous, K. (2019). The Shifting Legal Balance between Public School Employees’ Right to the Free Exercise of Religion and the Establishment Clause, Ed. Law Ass’n Conf.
Sherrill Linkous, K., & Payne, K. (2019). What You Don’t See Still Hurts (Badly): Providing a Legally-Appropriate Special Education to Students with Pain Disorders, Ed. Law Ass’n Conf.
Sherrill Linkous, K. (2019).. What is the Meaning of Sex? The Courts, Title IX, and a Student’s Gender Preference Use for School Facilities, GW GSEHD Symposium.
Sherrill Linkous, K. (2019 & 2018). Discipline of Students With Disabilities: Lessons From the Courts, Ed. Law Ass’n Conf.. (2019) and Council for Exceptional Children Conv. (2018).
Sherrill Linkous, K. (2018 & 2014). Providing a free, appropriate public education (FAPE) to students with childhood-onset bipolar disorder: Legal issues and analysis, Council for Exceptional Children Conv.
Sherrill Linkous, K. (2016). “Mother, May I? No you may not!” Parental Consent Requirements for Students to Participate in Student-Led Clubs at Public Schools, Ed. Law Ass’n Conf.
Sherrill Linkous, K. (2015 & 2013). Test Protocol Propriety and Parental or Student Access to Education Records, Council for Exceptional Children Conv. (2025) and Ed. Law Ass’n Conf. (2013).
Sherrill Linkous, K. (2013). Student and Parental Right to Access Education Records in Pre-K through Grade 12, Nat’l Business Inst.
Sherrill Linkous, K. (2013). Student Surveys and Evaluations in Pre-K through Grade 12, Nat’l Business Inst.
Sherrill Linkous, K. (2013). State Records Retention Acts and Student Education Records in Pre-K through Grade 12: the Problem of Email, Nat’l Business Inst.
Sherrill Linkous, K. (2012). But I Want to be a Rock Star! Writing Appropriate Measurable Postsecondary Goals and Objectives in a Disabled Student’s Transition Services Plan, Ed. Law Ass’n Conf.
Sherrill, K. (2012). Teacher Evaluation and the Law: A Guide to Current Thinking and Best Practice – Due Process and State Law Dismissal Statutes: The Limits of Dismissing Teachers under Newly-Implemented Value Added Evaluation Systems, CREATE Conf.
Sherrill, K. (2011). State Records Retention Acts, FERPA, and Conundrums of Practice, Ed. Law Ass’n Conf.
Sherrill, K. (2010 & 2009). When Use of Assistance Dogs at School is Necessary for Provision of an Appropriate Special Educational Program, Mid-Atlantic Animal Law Conf. (2011) and AERA Law & Ed SIG (2009).
Sherrill, K. (June 2004). May school districts require disclosure of an applicant’s social security number? Inquiry & Analysis, National School Boards Association Council of School Attorneys.